as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in beggars
an idle worthless person
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoboes
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in lounges
to spend time doing nothing
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bums
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
For ski bums looking to hit the Colorado slopes without slogging through I-70 traffic, there’s no better destination than Winter Park.
—Sarah Cahalan, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Expensive trip to modern backcountry huts Backcountry skiing is no longer just for ski bums.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026
And, then, of course, the park was full of bums like us.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
As older leaders retire, the days of bums on seats five days a week are likely to fade with them.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
In later years, the shearling coat in its more Western iteration became a fashion statement beloved by hippies and boho ski bums, and was notably worn with great aplomb by Robert Redford in the 1969 classic Downhill Racer.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The only thing that bums me and Michael out is all the stuff that got cut for time.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
History buffs, avid hikers, music lovers, wine aficionados, and beach bums will all find a town to love in the Old Dominion.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
For ski bums looking to hit the Colorado slopes without slogging through I-70 traffic, there’s no better destination than Winter Park.
—Sarah Cahalan, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
Expensive trip to modern backcountry huts Backcountry skiing is no longer just for ski bums.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026
And, then, of course, the park was full of bums like us.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
As older leaders retire, the days of bums on seats five days a week are likely to fade with them.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
In later years, the shearling coat in its more Western iteration became a fashion statement beloved by hippies and boho ski bums, and was notably worn with great aplomb by Robert Redford in the 1969 classic Downhill Racer.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2026
With both travel and programming budgets under pressure, all markets have to make a strong case to get buyer and seller bums on seats (or, more accurately, into screening booths and meeting rooms).
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Ndiaye aside, Everton have long lacked bums-off-seats kinds of players.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Critical thinking really bums them out.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The only thing that bums me and Michael out is all the stuff that got cut for time.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bums
Noun
-
The handcrafted Baked Collection features intense pigments whipped into a decadent cream, then baked on terracotta tiles into a powder to ripen color vibrancy -- a feast for eyes, cheeks, lips, and face in vibrant, weightless colors with all-day wear.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
-
Iran had scored its first goal and amid whoops of joy, Parvin, 76, who declined to provide her last name, wiped tears from her cheeks.—
Suhauna Hussain,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Kathleen Clark, an ethics lawyer who teaches at Washington University’s law school, told me, adding that this stance beggars belief.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
4 May 2026
-
Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The former, in which Burnett and Hamilton did a song-and-dance routine as Dust Bowl-era hobos, marked the first of several times that the two performed together.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
From oversized, slouchy hobos to structured East-West silhouettes and laptop-ready work totes, this season’s best suede bags deliver a luxurious polish that will elevate every fall wardrobe.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Uncertainty chills the market TOPSHOT - Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Spurs dominated the first half, right from the opening tip, even before Knicks fans, including celebrities Taylor Swift, Timothée Chalamet and others had a chance to sit down in their seats.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
In addition to enhanced food offerings, the Showcase Cinemas offer multiple premium large format screens and 80% of their auditoriums feature stadium-style reclining seats.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
For as long as Paris has existed, a group of people known by many names—derelicts; lollygaggers; scammers; bums—have sought to pass time there at no cost to themselves.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
The scene inspired future comedy gags showing drifters and tramps losing their pants to dogs chasing them.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Told in a lingua franca of philosophy and academic jargon, Lucky’s speech has something to do with the collapse of reason and logic, and the futility of human progress, which is ultimately what tramps Estragon (Reeves) and Vladimir (Winter) are up against, too.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Perfect for anything from coastal getaways and city strolls to casual office days, the Toccin Drew Pleated Wide-leg Trousers make any outfit feel fresh.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
They’re also outfitted with a breathable upper material that provides airflow during sweaty workouts and leisurely strolls around the neighborhood.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bums. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
